POVERTY + RACISM
How Poverty is a Form of Violence in the Black Community
An essay about the deprivation of resources
Throughout American history, Black people have learned that violence takes on many shapes and forms. Sometimes, those with ill intent will brandish a weapon, like a knife, gun, or pitchfork, and other times, their disdain will be expressed in systems designed to perpetuate harm. This essay is about the latter. You see, far too often, discussions about racism center on explicit examples while ignoring more subtle cues, in essence, missing the forest for the trees. Maybe you have never considered this before, but poverty is a form of violence in the black community, a way of causing harm without ever brandishing a weapon or saying an unkind word.
If you grew up in a predominately black community, you've likely heard some derogatory comments about your hometown, especially when that area is impoverished. People talk about their fear of visiting cities like Chicago and Atlanta as if the mere presence of Black people makes these places dangerous. When they see evidence of poverty, such as littered streets, beaten-down old homes, and punch-drunk businesses with iron bars, they blame the people living in those communities. Some scarcely consider how such widespread poverty has been facilitated and…
